Cherokee H.S. NJROTC honors top performers as Cadets of the Month

CADET LAURA ANDREWS
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Jan 2, 2019 at 12:00 PM

ROGERSVILLE — Naval Science instructors at Cherokee High School not only look for the best-dressed cadet in choosing the school’s NJROTC Cadets of the Month, they look at their attendance, participation and overall performance.

NJROTC Science instructors choose one male and one female each month to earn the Cadet of the Month honor.

Cherokee High School’s Cadets of the Month so far for the 2018-19 school year include: September: Ian Stewart and Katlyn Ramsey; October: Symon Mallory and Freedom Johnson; November: Emily Aviles and Matthew Sorah; and December: Keegan Horn and Madison Lawson.

Most cadets have a reason for joining NJROTC — or someone influenced them. Ramsey said she was inspired to join after some of the cadets from the Cherokee unit went to her school. She saw them and thought it would be cool to join when she got to high school.

Her goal is to become CO or XO in her senior year.

Ramsey’s fellow Cadet of the Month for September, Stewart, wants to join the Air Force when he gets out of high school.

He also says that the NJROTC program has greatly improved his life.

Some cadets have parts of ROTC that they like the most. Johnson enjoys practicing with rifles.

Aviles says she wants to go into the Navy. Keegan Horn says he wants to be a Navy Seal.

Some cadets want to go to college and start a family, including Madison Lawson. She wants a successful career and wants a family.

Leadership is a very important part of the military life, and Symon Mallory says he enjoys leading in ROTC because it helps build self-confidence.